Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 44 provides for an annual joint hearing of the House and Senate Budget Committees to hear a presentation by the Comptroller General of the United States reviewing the findings of the audited financial statement of the Federal Government.

I serve both on the House Budget and the House Rules Committees, and I am an original cosponsor of this legislation. It is long past time for the congressional Budget Committees to hear from the Comptroller General, who is the head of the Government Accountability Office. This should be done on an annual basis about the fiscal state of our Nation.

We already hear annually from the executive branch through the head of the Office of Management and Budget. To complement this information, we should also hear an unvarnished, nonpolitical perspective from the head of Congress' legislative support agency about the many factors contributing to the Nation's debt and deficit in order to develop sound fiscal policies and meet our long-term debt and deficit reduction goals.

Unfortunately, we are in the middle of a spending crisis, with well over $1 trillion in taxpayer money spent largely on partisan priorities, and the bad news is there is more on the way. The financial effect of this spending on the Federal Government's balance sheet may not be fully realized for several years. It is imperative that we keep close tabs on how our revenues, spending, and debt level are faring.

Congress receives information piecemeal from the executive branch and from the legislative support agencies, so we should have a comprehensive, data-driven analysis and presentation to ensure that our fiscal policies are, in fact, working to ensure the financial health of our Nation, not just in the next 2-year cycle, but for decades into the future as well.

While the legislation before us today was introduced by my Democratic colleague from New York (Miss Rice), it is rooted in the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform from the 115th Congress chaired by my colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

This is clearly not a partisan issue, as the legislation has more than 100 cosponsors from both parties. Financial success and longevity begin years before they are realized. We must not be reckless with our Nation's financial future now, and the best way to ensure that is to enact the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 44, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), who is the respected ranking member of the House Committee on the Budget.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack) in order to continue the lectures, and who is a valuable member of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

So, Madam Speaker, in closing, this legislation will provide the congressional Budget Committees with an unbiased, analytical understanding of the audited financial statement of the Federal Government.

We know problems remain in completing this audit, as the Department of Defense has yet to receive a full financial audit opinion. To ensure that this statutorily required audit is achieved and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial health of the Federal Government, we certainly must pass the Fiscal State of the Nation Resolution.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the five recipients of the 26th District of Texas' 2020 Congressional Veterans Commendation. These men have faithfully served this Nation in both their military and civilian lives, and it is my great privilege to publicly recognize their significant contributions.

Mr. Paul Bastiach of Oak Point served in the U.S. Air Force for twenty-five years, fast as a Precision Measurement Equipment Specialist and later as the Commandant of the Airman Leadership School. Mr. Bastiach was recognized as the School's Flight Chief of the Year in 2000, and was awarded four Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, and the Air Force Achievement Medal over the course of his tenure in the armed forces. In 2004, the Air Force further honored Mr. Bastiach with the Air Force Productivity Award, denoting an individual who has made such substantial improvements in productivity that the Air Force saved over $1 million. Following his military career, Mr. Bastiach professionally served his fellow veterans as the Denton County Veteran Service Officer, as President of the Veterans County Service Officer Association of Texas (VCSOAT), and as the North Texas Region Director of VSOAT. His work has led to significant improvements to the Denton County VA's facilities, an increase of over $200 million in gross benefits to Denton County Veterans, and the foundation of both the Veterans Community Navigator Program and the Denton County Veterans Coalition (DCVC). He currently serves as DCVC's Vice President and as the co-planner for the County's annual Veteran's Day Event.

Mr. Richard Cook of Double Oak served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1971, in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the Korean War, Mr. Cook was assigned to the USS Missouri, the flagship of the Seventh Fleet, which played a pivotal role in multiple offensive maneuvers as part of the famed Task Force 77. Mr. Cook was promoted to the highest enlisted rank of Master Chief and was later commissioned as a Lieutenant. After 21 years on active duty, he transferred into the Naval Reserves, serving an additional ten years. Mr. Cook's service was recognized with the UN Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. After leaving his military career, Mr. Cook devoted his time and attention to serving his local community of Double Oak. He was first elected to the Town Council in 1994 and was then appointed Mayor in 1995. The citizens of Double Oak re-elected Mr. Cook as Mayor twice. In 2010, he was appointed as Mayor Emeritus. Sadly, Mr. Cook passed away on October 2, 2021. My condolences to his family and the community of Double Oak as we reflect upon his military service and recognize his civic accomplishments.

Mr. Jacob Schick of Frisco enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps one month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and fought as a member of the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Corps Regiment, Bravo Company during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2004, Mr. Schick's Humvee struck an improvised explosive device, resulting in the loss of his left leg and severe damage to his left arm. The U.S. Marine Corps recognized his sacrifice with the awarding of the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal. Mr. Schick continued to serve as an active duty servicemember until he was medically discharged in 2011, having attained the rank of Corporal. Mr. Schick continued to serve his former comrades in arms at the Center for Brain Health and the Brain Performance Institute, where he conducted research into alleviating Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post Traumatic Stress. In addition, he was instrumental in founding the non-profit ``22 Kill'' to bring public awareness to the alarming rate of veteran suicides and he currently serves as CEO of the ``One Tribe Foundation,'' which raises funds and provides support programs to assist veterans and first responders and their families.

Mr. Dennis Sheridan of Trophy Club was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1969. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Sheridan was first assigned to Bravo Company and then to 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company as platoon leader. His outstanding command of 2nd Platoon was noted and he was designated as the Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer of Alpha Company. The U.S. Army recognized his service with the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star with V Device, and the Bronze Star with One Oak Leaf. Mr. Sheridan rose to the rank of captain by the end of his active duty in 1972. Subsequent to his military career, Mr. Sheridan served as a Commissioner and Chair of the Trophy Club Planning and Zoning Commission, and he currently serves as a Town Councilman, and actively volunteers for numerous veterans' organizations in the DFW metroplex.

Finally, Mr. Danny Weakley of Little Elm served in the armed forces for over two decades as a member of the U.S. Army's 89th Military Police Brigade. Mr. Weakley's service included tours in Somalia, Qatar, and Iraq, and merited him two Bronze Star Medals, three counts of the Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, a GWOT Service Medal, a GWOT Expeditionary Medal, three Iraq Campaign Medals, and the Combat Action Badge. Mr. Weakley retired in 2008, having attained the rank of Master Sergeant. A graduate of Little Elm's Fire, Police and Government Academy, he volunteers with multiple Little Elm events and he spearheaded new civic programs including Little Elm's Veteran's Ruck March and the Honor Park Cleanup.

I am truly privileged to thank all five of our recipients for their honorable service in the Armed Forces and their whole-hearted dedication to their communities following their military careers. Their leadership, devotion, and sacrifice truly exemplify the finest traditions of the United States Military. I join the friends, families, and communities of these recipients in expressing sincere appreciation and congratulating them on their commendation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the military service and philanthropic contributions of Sergeant Michael Carnell. Sergeant Carnell is a wounded warrior, husband and father of three, who has worked tirelessly for veterans' organizations in North Texas and was recently honored with the 2021 Spirit of a Hero Award.

Sergeant Carnell honorably served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Anti-Tank Assaultman and an Intelligence Specialist, including overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since the end of his active duty in 2007, he has been active in veterans' support organizations such as Carry the Load, Save the Brave, the Adaptive Training Foundation and 22Kill. Through his involvement with 22Kill, he has worked to alleviate the conditions that tragically lead to roughly twenty-two veterans daily resorting to suicide. Sergeant Carnell has raised funds to support veterans' assistance organizations and ardently worked to bolster community awareness of the difficult issues facing veterans.

Sergeant Carnell recently began treatment for Stage IV Colon and Liver Cancer. His efforts on behalf of his fellow veterans has inspired others to provide financial assistance to his family to address his medical expenses. This year, the Spirit of a Hero organization will honor him with a benefit concert, motorcycle ride, and commemorative gala.

I join the community of North Texas in thanking Sergeant Michael Carnell for his service to our country as a soldier and his subsequent service as a private citizen serving his veteran brothers and sisters. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he continues his battle against cancer.

Mr. Speaker, this is a lot of money that we are talking about. But it is not just the volumes of money; it is the velocity with which we are spending money over these last 2 years.

Yes, the coronavirus is terrible. Yes, the American economy needed some help. But we passed the big American Rescue Plan in February, and the States and municipalities, as of this date, have spent 2.5 percent of that money.

I am also on the Energy and Commerce Committee. We are one of the principal authorizing committees in the United States House of Representatives. Have we had a single hearing on how much money we have pushed out to the healthcare sector, to the States, to the municipalities? No, we have not.

Have we had a single hearing of what is likely to be required going forward? The answer is: No, we have not.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter I penned to Frank Pallone, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, asking him can we please do just a modicum of the oversight that we are required to do in the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, October 7, 2021.

Hon. Frank Pallone, Jr.,

Chairman, Energy and Commerce Committee,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Pallone: I urge you to hold a hearing on the

implementation of the American Rescue Plan, so that we may

fulfil the oversight responsibilities of the Energy and

Commerce Committee. Nearly seven months have passed since the

enactment of the American Rescue Plan, but despite costing

the American taxpayer $1.9 trillion, many Americans have yet

to feel or recognize its effects. As the House committee with

jurisdiction over the Department of Health and Human

Services, the agency responsible for allocating many of these

funds, it is only reasonable that proper oversight is

enforced to ensure Congressional intent is practiced and the

taxpayer dollar used accordingly during implementation.

During consideration of the American Rescue Plan, many

lawmakers heard from states and localities on the urgent need

for emergency funding. While I do not doubt that many

localities were in need of assistance, it was reported that

as of this summer, most had spent only 2.5% of the $350

billion that was appropriated to states and localities in the

American Rescue Plan.

I understand this large sum of funds will take time to

properly distribute, and states and localities must be

prudent and spend allocations in ways which will prove to be

an investment and grant long-term security, but it is

imperative that these funds have adequate direction from

Congress stipulating the appropriateness of their

expenditure. States and localities need certainty that they

are spending funds as directed and that these funds will not

be at risk of being revoked for improper use. Fortunately, as

directed by Section 602 of the American Rescue Plan, the

Treasury Department is requiring expenditure reports with an

interim report for all states and localities having been due

on August 31, 2021, and quarterly reports starting October

31, 2021 for states and cities with populations of 250,000

residents or more.

I am afraid that Congress and the American people may lose

sight of the significance that $1.9 trillion in one single

stimulus package may mean and the responsibility associated

with appropriating such funds. While these funds were

appropriated with the intention of helping communities

recover from and respond to the devastation of the COVID-19

pandemic, it is important that the American people are aware

of specific projects being funded by this package. I have

read reports of the American Rescue Plan being used by cities

to buy 78 electric vehicles, build technology labs at

recreation centers, and fund long avoided infrastructure

projects. Although these projects may have merit, are they

really the intent of the American Rescue Plan?

It has been a tumultuous and difficult year for Americans

across the country, with businesses, schools, and social

endeavors operating different than the norm--Congress and the

Energy and Commerce Committee have been no different.

However, as we continue to consider historically large

spending packages, we have an obligation to our Constituents

to oversee the implementation and use of these funds.

Sincerely,

Michael C. Burgess, M.D.,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard over and over again that what awaits is a manufactured crisis. The American people have some experience now dealing with manufactured crises. Since January of this year, they have seen a never-ending array of manufactured crises.

Look, I live in Texas. It is a border State. There are a lot of problems on the southern border. We hear about it every time we turn on the news.

The border wall was supposed to be built. It was to help that problem. But there are stacks and stacks of material to build that border wall that are just sitting because the current administration has put a pause on all of that and said we are not building any more.

What is going to happen to all of that material, that material that was paid for with borrowed money that, yes, is part of the debt? What is going to happen to that? It is going to be stolen; it is going to be diverted to some other use, probably to no good end.

But had that wall been in place, maybe the streams of people that were coming across the border at Del Rio a couple of weeks ago could have been interrupted.

The Dallas Morning News, on Sunday, had a story about how 250 buses transported Haitians from Central America up to the lower Rio Grande Valley. Could our Department of Homeland Security not have had some visibility on who was renting 250 buses to bring the 15,000 people to the southern border? Maybe they could have spent some of that money in that regard.

I don't know if anybody has noticed, but gas is $1 a gallon more than it was 9 months ago. We are in for a cold winter, Mr. Speaker. It would be nice to have some provisions to deal with that cold winter, but this administration has turned a blind eye to the energy needs of our constituents in this country.

It is almost as if they wanted to harm the people of this country. I know that is not true. I know them to be good people. But at the same time, what I hear from my constituents is an incredible amount of frustration with what is coming from the administration and what is coming from the Congress. It is time we took care of the needs of the American people, and we ought to get on with it.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, please inform the White House that there is a crisis along our southern border. That is why defeating the previous question is so important, so we can take up this amendment.

More than 1 billion undocumented immigrants crossed the southern border this year, including hundreds of thousands in the last several months. It is the highest level in years. In the most recent accounting, over 15,000 illegal immigrants, the majority originating from the country of Haiti, were camped under a bridge in Del Rio. They had no food. They had no water. They had no sanitation. They had no shelter.

The Biden administration admitted in 12,000 of these migrants and Secretary Mayorkas admitted that not a single one was vaccinated or tested for the coronavirus.

It is unconscionable that thousands of migrants continue to stream across our border without being tested while the Biden administration implements mandates for masks and mandates for vaccines for American citizens. But this not only contradicts the guidance from our public health authorities, but it puts American citizens at risk and their communities in danger.

Madam Speaker, I have offered amendments several times throughout consideration of the reconciliation bill that we previously passed, the America Rescue Plan, and during the markup of the Build Back Better plan in the Energy and Commerce Committee to provide funding for and require testing of migrants entering along our southern border. Every time Democrats voted against this commonsense amendment.

So it is hypocritical to declare that Americans must take precautions, Americans must be subject to mandates to protect public health, while allowing non-Americans, noncitizens, to roam free into the country without so much as a temperature check.

Representative Miller-Meeks' bill will require a negative coronavirus test before any immigrant without proper documentation can be released from custody. As you know, currently the procedure is catch and release.

Madam Speaker, this Nation was built by immigrants. And we take in, legally and lawfully, over a million immigrants each year; more than any other country. But those seeking to come here must follow our laws, must follow our current regulations.

Unfortunately, they do not get to cross the border just because they want to; they must acquire proper documentation and take precautions to protect public health, as is currently required by all other Americans by the Biden administration.

Madam Speaker, so I urge my fellow Members to vote against the previous question so we can immediately take up this important bill.

Madam Speaker, the gentleman will notice that the primary county that I represent, Denton County, has a significantly higher vaccination rate because we put together a vaccine hub at Texas Motor Speedway. We are very grateful for the participation of all members of the community.

Mr. Speaker, the National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision requiring women now to register for the Selective Service. We all know that men have 30 days from their 18th birthday to register for the Selective Service in case a draft becomes necessary. Of course, we also know the last draft was during the Nixon administration in 1972.

We are fortunate to have an all-volunteer military force, and we know that our citizens unite in times of need. The Selective Service System has outlived its necessity.

However, since it remains a requirement, we must not fundamentally change the relationship between the government and the governed by adding a provision to add women to the draft in this massive defense bill.

A change of this magnitude requires its own vote by every Member representing their constituents. I supported an amendment to strike this language from the bill by the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. Greene), but unfortunately the Democrats are not permitting its consideration on the floor.

I think this is a mistake. I think we should be heard. I think we should be transparent, we should be recorded, and then let's get on with the business of replacing the Selective Service System.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Argyle High School Boys' Basketball Team for their commendable victory at the Division 4A state championship. The Argyle Eagles, through their laudable dedication and perseverance, qualified to compete in their UIL conference's state championship in March 2021. With their impressive performance at the final match against Huffman Hargrave High School at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, the team secured the state title for the second time in its history.

Led by Head Basketball Coach Russell Perkins and MVP Skylar McCurry, the Eagles' near perfect 29-1 game season culminated in their notable state victory. It is my pleasure to congratulate them on their stellar repeat championship.

The Argyle High School Boys' Basketball team exhibited remarkable teamwork, sportsmanship and camaraderie amidst the challenges brought about by a challenging year. I applaud each player, coach, and coordinator for their exemplary efforts and congratulate them for attaining their goals in the 2020-2021 basketball season. I wish every one of them continued success in their future athletic, educational and professional endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Lewisville ISD Flower Mound High School Girls Soccer Team, the Jaguars, for their state championship victory at the UIL Division 6A Championship on April 16, 2021.

The Lady Jaguars, led by senior Riley Baker--a Kansas State signee voted MVP for the championship, junior Sydney Becerra--a Texas A&M signee, and Head Coach Misail Tsapos, secured the state title in a 2-1 game against Austin Vandergrift High School. The team is to be commended for the exemplary teamwork and sportsmanship practiced all season. I am proud to join our community in celebrating their noteworthy accomplishments.

Though the Jaguars were heavily impacted by the challenges of the COVlD-19 pandemic, the team overcame and surpassed their obstacles to attain its second state title. I applaud the grit and talent exhibited by each player.

It is my privilege to recognize the outstanding performance of the Flower Mound Jaguars in the 2020-2021 soccer season. I wish the players and coaches continued success in future seasons, both on and off the playing field.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished public service of Chief Roland Asebedo, the Fire Marshall and Director of Development and Emergency Services for Denton County. After a professional life devoted to protecting and serving the community, Chief Asebedo passed away on September 13, 2021, at the age of 56 after a courageous battle with COVID-19.

Chief Asebedo obtained his Master Peace Officer certification in 1998 and his Associates Degree from South Plains College in 2002. Originally from Silverton, Texas, Chief Asebedo began his tenure with Denton County Emergency Services in 2004.

Over the course of his fire service career, Chief Asebedo served as the Fire Chief of Highland Village, the Fire Marshall of Coppell, and the Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshall with the Plainview/EMS department. His expertise and dedication to ensuring North Texans' safety led to his appointment as the Denton County Fire Marshal and Director of Development and Emergency Services in 2020.

Chief Asebedo's career in emergency services spanned 30 years, and his efforts have saved and safeguarded innumerable lives in our community. Denton County has lost an unparalleled public servant with Roland Asebedo's passing. The civic virtues of compassion, professionalism and selflessness demonstrated by Chief Asebedo will inspire his Denton County and North Texas colleagues to continue to provide the exemplary standard of conduct that characterized his meritorious career. I join the friends, family, and colleagues of Roland Asebedo in mourning his loss and honoring his legacy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Mr. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings, the longtime President and CEO of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. After a distinguished 41- year long career within the organization, Mr. Jennings passed away on July 24, 2021 at the age of 73.

After graduating from Texas Wesleyan University in 1971 with a degree in marketing, Mr. Jennings had a 27-year career at TXU as a Community Affairs Specialist and was the first African-American lobbyist employed by Texas Electric. Since its establishment, he worked for over four decades in various positions within the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. His commitment to ensure the organization's mission ``to make Fort Worth a better place to work and raise a family'' truly serves as a model of civic leadership.

Mr. Jennings' professional and philanthropic efforts merited numerous awards from the Fort Worth community, including two commemorative City of Fort Worth ``Devoyd Jennings'' days in 1992 and 2005. The Fort Worth Business Press awarded him the Deal Maker award in 1998, recognized his contributions as a ``Who's Who in Economic Development'' in 1999, and, most recently, honored him with its ``Minority Leaders in Business Award'' in 2017.

Mr. Jennings worked tirelessly to provide new educational and economic opportunities for the citizens of Fort Worth. Amongst his endeavors, he helped established two standalone organizations, the William Mann Community Development Corporation and Southeast Fort Worth Inc., which continue to encourage growth and development in minority neighborhoods in Fort Worth. In addition, he was instrumental in the reconstruction and reopening of his beloved high school alma mater, I.M. Terrell, as a STEM & Performing Arts Center.

I join the community of Fort Worth in honoring Mr. Jennings' life and legacy and extend my sincere condolences to his friends and family. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings led a life of outstanding civic virtue and service and his dedicated efforts to improve Fort Worth as a place to live and work will continue to positively benefit his hometown for years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Bryce Boneau, a phenomenal North Texas student and athlete. Mr. Boneau, a 2021 graduate of Keller High School, was presented with the prestigious Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. With this achievement, he joins a select list of elite athletes across the nation, including Lebron James, MLS Cup Champion Alecko Eskandarian and former U.S. National team star Claudio Renya.

Through his competitive spirit and drive, Mr. Boneau led the Keller High School Boys Soccer Team to a remarkable 17-3 season while contributing 18 goals and 19 assists in only 20 games. Under his leadership, the KHS Indians reached the Class 6A Region I Semifinals. Mr. Boneau suffered an ACL injury prior to the match, and his team unfortunately lost to Allen High School.

In addition, Bryce Boneau has been recognized for his stellar academic ability and community contributions. He graduated from Keller High School with a 4.0 GPA and actively volunteered in St. Barnabas Anglican Church's youth ministry and outreach to provide refurbished sports equipment for underserved youths.

Mr. Boneau's athletic talents have earned him a spot on the roster at Notre Dame's Varsity Soccer program where he will enter, and no doubt impress, as a freshman in fall 2021. It is my privilege to congratulate Bryce Boneau for his outstanding contributions to the Keller High School Soccer team, and I wish him continued success in his educational, athletic and professional endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to demand of the majority that they restore the use of the resolution of inquiry. Resolutions of inquiry are used by the House to obtain information from the executive branch. If a resolution of inquiry is not marked up in committee within 14 days, it becomes a privileged resolution on the House floor.

Now, for a year the majority has turned off the tolling days for resolutions of inquiry. They said this was because of the pandemic. But there is no need for this. Committees are open, committees are operating. The House floor votes have returned to near normal operations.

This is a request for information. It is not an opinion. It is a request for information that we, as Members of the House, should have available from the administration.

But if you want an opinion, yesterday I introduced a resolution of inquiry directing the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services to turn over information on the care of unaccompanied alien children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This used to be something in which the majority was interested.

There is a crisis along our southern border, and the Biden administration and the majority should see the importance of having transparency for the protection of these children that are, by law, under our care.

I urge the majority to restore minority rights, and turn back on the tolling days for resolutions of inquiry.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today's rule provides for consideration of a bill to designate perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOA, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, also known as PFOS, as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, outside the regular rulemaking process. This rule also includes a bill to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision on the Federal Trade Commission's authority to seek monetary relief for consumers, and a bill to ease restrictions and increase the cap on Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans.

H.R. 2467, the PFAS Action Act, has a laudable goal to address the negative impacts of PFOA and PFAS. These are manmade chemicals and have proven useful but potentially harmful. While they are often used in products throughout our world, there is evidence that certain types of PFAS lead to negative health consequences. Although there is bipartisan agreement that Congress needs to address PFAS contamination, this bill does not achieve that goal.

The PFAS Action Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency to designate PFAS and PFOA as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, known as CERCLA, within 1 year of the bill's passage and then to consider designating the remaining 9,000-plus PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances within 5 years.

The reality is just over 800 compounds have been categorized as hazardous substances since the passage of CERCLA in 1980. Now, we are going to add over 9,000 chemicals in just 5 years, and I submit it will be nearly impossible for the Environmental Protection Agency to implement this.

The agency is actively engaged in investigating the prevalence of PFAS chemicals and has undertaken rulemakings to address some of the provisions in this bill, so undercutting this process by establishing unrealistic requirements on a shortened timeline sets the Environmental Protection Agency up for failure.

CERCLA is an incredibly complex body of law that triggers significant liability if a cleanup is necessary. Creating a blanket designation of all of the 9,252 PFAS chemicals would create a massive problem for consumers who live with FDA-approved PFAS devices. For example, 40 million Americans are currently living with a PFAS-based heart stent.

Are they to be designated as Superfund sites or to have those stents removed?

A blanket CERCLA designation would also hinder innovation in new products. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the vulnerabilities in our supply chain. It doesn't seem like the correct time to limit the materials available for innovation when the designation as hazardous, for largely useful compounds, is based on rushed science.

This bill also requires the EPA to issue a rule on toxicity testing for PFAS, a rule on PFAS contamination of drinking water, and a rule to designate all PFAS chemicals as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Furthermore, this legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish grants for communities to implement PFAS water treatment technologies.

Republicans offered amendments in the Energy and Commerce Committee and at the Rules Committee that were rejected for various procedural reasons. The Rules Committee did not receive a score from the Congressional Budget Office for this bill until an hour before our Rules meeting yesterday, and the CBO score was indeterminate.

The administration of this bill would cost the Federal Government $280 million over 10 years. It is impossible to know how this impacts Federal spending over the next 10 years. No one knows how much PFAS contamination exists, so no one knows how much liability this bill creates for taxpayers.

Because the amendments offered by Republicans were based on the underlying bill, the amendments were also problematic from a budget perspective. There is no reason to limit consideration of these amendments that affect consumer safety based on the inability to achieve a budget score because the underlying bill is budgetarily suspect.

Ultimately, this bill ignores the societal good that some fluorinated compounds demand. PFAS are in medical devices that save lives. They are used in firefighting foams to put out the worst of blazes, including jet fuel fires. They are in advanced energy products like solar panels and pipelines. They are even in piano keys and dental floss. These compounds are risky if used improperly or irresponsibly, but they are essential when used correctly.

Our second bill, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act seeks to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in the case of AMG Capital v. Federal Trade Commission. In this decision, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act does not grant the Federal Trade Commission the authority to seek monetary relief as an equitable remedy when engaging in enforcement actions.

Unfortunately, this bill was rushed through the Energy and Commerce Committee without addressing any of the Republican concerns. First, this bill reinstates the Federal Trade Commission's authority to seek monetary relief under section 13(b) and expands the scope to apply broadly to all FTC enforcement authority. This will likely make monetary relief the go-to remedy for every alleged FTC violation.

The Federal Trade Commission already has authority to seek monetary relief for fraudulent and dishonest conduct under section 19 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Second, this bill includes a statute of limitations of 10 years, but a 5-year statute of limitations is in line with the rest of the Federal Trade Commission Act, and, in fact, would be more appropriate. It does not make sense for courts to go back for a full decade to calculate monetary relief.

During the Rules meeting yesterday, Ranking Member Bilirakis offered an amendment that would have addressed these two issues. Unfortunately, committee Democrats would not even allow a debate on these amendments on the floor of this House.

Additionally, the expanded scope of the bill would give the Federal Trade Commission new authority to seek monetary relief in antitrust cases. This remedy is currently not needed, because antitrust cases can be brought through private rights of action or, in fact, treble damages, a tripling of the compensatory damages, can be awarded.

This bill is a missed opportunity to develop Federal privacy legislation that is needed to overcome a patchwork of State laws. A key part of protecting consumers is ensuring that the Federal Trade Commission has the tools to enforce a Federal privacy standard. It is disappointing that the Democrats refused to work with Republicans to make this bill actually useful and effective for real consumers.

Republicans support ensuring that the Federal Trade Commission has the necessary tools to protect consumers from bad actors. But it also recognizes that guardrails are necessary to prevent the Federal Trade Commission from exceeding its authority.

The final bill, the ALLIES Act, expands the number of special immigrant visas by 8,000 and eases requirements for Afghan requirements. To qualify, an individual must have been employed in Afghanistan by or on behalf of the United States Government, the International Security Assistance Force, or the Resolute Support Mission.

This bill removes the current requirement that the International Security Assistance Force or Resolute Support employees had been engaged in sensitive and trusted positions. This will make it easier for Afghans who served alongside our Armed Forces to qualify.

Americans first entered Afghanistan in October 2001. Most of us were not in Congress in October of 2001. And this, of course, followed the terrorist attacks on September 11 of that year. Once the Taliban was defeated and Osama bin Laden was caught, the United States worked to establish a legitimate and strong central government in Afghanistan. Now, after 20 years, Americans are ready for their brave sons and daughters to come home.

Despite our efforts and bloodshed, Afghanistan remains plagued by a resurgent Taliban, by dangerous militias, and by a weak central government. The Pentagon recently stated that, for all intents and purposes, the United States withdrawal is, in fact, already complete. Unfortunately, many Afghans who served alongside our Armed Forces and security personnel remain in Afghanistan under serious threat due to their employment by or on behalf of the United States' missions.

We must ensure that we are not putting Americans at risk by not properly vetting applicants as they are brought to this country, but we also must do right by those Afghans who risked their lives to aid Americans throughout the last 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, it will come as no surprise to you that I am going to urge opposition to the rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to immediately consider S. 1867, the COVID-19 Origin Act, introduced by Senator Hawley. It has been 55 days since the Senate passed this critical bill without a single dissenting vote.

Declassifying intelligence surrounding the origin of COVID-19 is imperative and key to the House Republican plan to hold China accountable for the pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment into the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. Speaker, to further explain the amendment, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), a valuable member of the Doctors Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, again, I am going to urge defeat of the previous question and consideration of the amendment as previously discussed by Dr. Wenstrup.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) to further explain the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko), a former member of the Rules Committee and a valuable member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how many additional speakers the gentlewoman from North Carolina has.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans agree that PFAS contamination must be addressed, and it must be addressed quickly. But requiring a blanket CERCLA designation for a family of over 9,000 compounds is not only untenable; it circumvents the science and the ongoing work at the Environmental Protection Agency.

I do want to point out that yesterday I had posed a question in the Rules Committee if there had been a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee. I was assured that there had been. But, in fact, those hearings occurred in the previous Congress.

There was a reference to PFAS in the budgetary hearing for the Environmental Protection Agency, and there was likewise a tangential reference in a reauthorization of a water bill, but for an issue that is this involved, it seems that this required its own separate hearing within the committee.

The Chair, who is on the Energy and Commerce Committee, knows that sometimes these things run together. We have worked on this problem for so many Congresses that I asked the question simply because I couldn't remember if there had been an actual hearing on this bill in this Congress. But, in fact, there has not, and I just want the Record to accurately reflect that.

The reason that that is important is there are many Members in this Congress who were not Members of the previous Congress, and we are asking them to take a vote today on a terribly important piece of legislation. We need to provide our colleagues with all the facts, and the way we do that in regular order is through the regular hearing process in an authorizing committee, like the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Unfortunately, in spite of the assurances from the chair of the Rules Committee, that has not happened with this bill.

Another thing really was concerning to me yesterday in the Rules Committee. I had two amendments. I was told: Oh, we can't do those because we don't really know the budgetary impacts of that.

My gosh, you don't know the budgetary impacts of the entire bill.

We got a CBO score right at the hearing time yesterday, and the CBO score says $280 million of direct expenses over the next 10 years. But it has no idea of the downstream effects of passing this legislation or what the resulting expenditures would be for Federal and State governments. We have no earthly idea what the actual cost of this is.

I would just simply submit, to reject amendments brought in good faith by Republicans because you don't have all the budgetary information at hand when the Congressional Budget Office really cannot provide us the proper budgetary direction on the underlying bill, you begin to see the discrepancy and why that yields so much frustration.

As a result, no Republican amendments to try to improve the bill were considered because of the indeterminate budgetary effects. It seems to me that a bill focused on consumer safety should not be limited by procedural issues.

Those very same procedural issues, Mr. Speaker, can be waived by the Committee on Rules. That is what we do. We waive things all the time. But in this case, we couldn't find the additional energy to be able to do that.

Additionally, the rushed bill to overturn the Supreme Court's decision on the Federal Trade Commission's section 13(b) authority to seek monetary relief will only make monetary relief the go-to remedy for every FTC violation, with no guardrails.

Creating new agency authority that affects consumers should not be undertaken so lightly and should not be rushed through committee without full consideration of the issue. This bill does nothing to advance Federal privacy standards that are needed to overcome the patchwork of State laws and increase our ability to negotiate a new data-sharing agreement with the European Union.

Again, I would just stress that an amendment offered by Mr. Bilirakis in committee--and I offered it again yesterday in the Rules Committee-- to try to make this a more bipartisan and reasonable approach was rejected on party lines. That is not the way that we should be governing.

Finally, the ALLIES Act will increase the ability of certain Afghans to obtain Special Immigrant Visas. These Afghans worked alongside our troops for years to make their country a better place, often at significant risk to their own lives and their families' lives. We must ensure that they are properly and thoroughly vetted so that the Taliban and jihadist militias cannot exploit our generosity. We must also not leave behind those who risked their lives to aid our Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question, and I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary life of Fred Rogers, the outgoing commander of American Legion Peter J. Courcy Post 178 in Frisco, Texas. Mr. Rogers has conducted his life with distinguished service to his community and nation, through his service in the U.S. Armed Forces and his subsequent volunteer efforts.

Mr. Rogers served honorably as an Air Policeman in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1964. After retiring from his decades-long civilian career as a Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Rogers joined the American Legion in 2008. Mr. Rogers' leadership roles at multiple North Texas posts in The Colony, McKinney, and Frisco led to him receiving numerous post, district, division, department, and national awards.

Mr. Rogers is a founding post member and has served as the Commander of Post 178 for the past seven years. His tireless efforts to bolster the new post's community involvement and promote its membership led to Post 178 earning the Texas Post Excellence Award for four consecutive years from 2016 through 2019. The post also earned the National Post Excellence Award for three consecutive years from 2016 through 2018. Despite the post's recent founding, it is one of the most recognized and fastest growing in the state of Texas. The post also recently earned recognition for establishing a Membership All-Time High for seven consecutive years from 2015 through 2021.

Under his leadership as Post Commander, Post 178 has organized Memorial and Veterans Day events, sponsored dozens of high school juniors for American Legion Boys State, promoted the annual American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship contest, worked alongside the Wreaths Across America organization at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery and contributed to many other community events and celebrations. I join Post 178 and the Frisco community in thanking Mr. Rogers for his devoted service to our veterans and his fellow citizens. He is truly an outstanding model of selfless civic service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of the individuals, agencies, corporations, and organizations that made the Denton County, Texas COVID-19 vaccine distribution program possible. This massive undertaking was accomplished through the collective efforts of the Denton County Public Health Department, Denton County Emergency Management, County Judge Andy Eads and the Denton County Commissioners Court, the Denton County Medical Reserve Corps, and thousands of corporate and private citizen volunteers. Thanks to the selfless service of these groups and individuals, our community's vaccine distribution was not only highly successful, but seminal in providing a distribution model for Texas and across the country.

In particular, I would like to recognize the success of the Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) Denton County Mass Vaccination Site. The concept of an efficient drive-through vaccine delivery model was initially tested beginning in January 2021 at Denton ISD's C.H. Collins Stadium with the vaccination of over 12,000 individuals. Eddie Gossage, President of Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), offered the huge outdoor facility for the county's distribution efforts. Due to excellent planning, preparation and staging by Denton County's Health and Emergency Management and the exemplary diligence of 8,350 civilian volunteers, the TMS mass vaccination clinic, during its period of operation from February to May 2021, vaccinated over 375,000 North Texans. On March 16, 2021, the TMS clinic broke the national record for the most individuals vaccinated in a 9.5 hour period, with 12,927 vaccinations. The mass clinic also broke another record for a 10-hour period on April 29, with 17,004 vaccinations. Amidst these record- breaking clinics, effective and efficient operations resulted in wait times per vehicle averaging 10 minutes from check-in to vaccination, followed by a 15 to 30-minute observation period.

The administration of Denton County was instrumental in organizing this tremendous operation. Judge Eads and the Denton County Commissioners are to be commended for their endorsement and oversight of the TMS clinic, as well as other vaccine distribution sites across the county. The diligence and devotion of both county officials and frontline workers has ensured the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of their constituents and neighbors.

The vaccination effort was further bolstered by the philanthropic outpouring of time and efforts from many volunteer organizations, including Denton County's Medical Reserve Corps. The members of the Denton County Medical Reserve Corps, in addition to performing screenings, offering accessible information services, and encouraging the vaccination effort, vaccinated over 10,000 individuals per day through their point of distribution at the Texas Motor Speedway. Over 125,000 residents of the county have been directly vaccinated thus far by the Medical Corps, and their community awareness and involvement campaigns have resulted in even more individuals receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Due to its exemplary performance, the Denton County MRC was selected as an awardee for the MRC Program National Recognition Awardee for Community Response in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts.

In addition, in June the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) awarded the Denton County Mass Vaccination Cooperation Site the 2021 Regional Cooperation Award. This award is presented to two or more local governments acting in tandem to address the concerns of the community. I join NCTCOG in extoling the monumental cooperation that allowed the vaccination effort to reach across city and county lines. The 42-regional partners that made this success possible are truly an estimable model of community service and camaraderie.

The Denton County Mass Vaccination Cooperative has been invaluable to bolstering the public health and wellbeing of the citizens of the county, state, and nation. The North Texas community gratefully applauds the staff and volunteers for their whole-hearted service in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their aid in bringing this crisis under control.

It is my privilege to recognize the Denton County Mass Vaccination program and congratulate the TMS clinic for receiving the NCTCOG Regional Cooperation Award, and the Denton County MRC for its national commendation. I trust that Denton County's continuing efforts will enhance the safety and security of our community. The frontline workers and volunteers that have shouldered the burden of the vaccination distribution are truly a model of civic responsibility and courage, and I thank them for their outstanding efforts